Technology and Engineering China Study Trip (TECS)

The School of Engineering is excited to offer a new program in China in summer 2013. A two-week study trip in early September will provide first-hand insights into technology and engineering based business inside China - from both global and Chinese perspectives.
 
A School of Engineering professor and a PhD student leader will lead visits to tech-based companies in a wide spectrum of industries including internet, mobile, biotech, energy, design, manufacturing, automotive, and venture capital. Trip locations will focus on Beijing and Shanghai, and will include travel to the Three Gorges Dam (near Yichang), which is the world’s largest power station and represents a significant engineering undertaking. Students will also visit cultural sites, meet with local university students and network with Stanford alumni.
 
Through participation, students will 1) gain knowledge of current development of technology-based business in China; 2) understand, in a comparative approach, how US/multinational companies localize to stay competitive; 3) understand why/how China became the world's manufacturing powerhouse; 4) learn about the engineering of the Three Gorges Dam and its social/environmental/economic impact; and 5) be exposed to China’s push toward an innovation-driven economy and the challenges faced.

Topics to be explored through company visits and discussions include:

• Technology Entrepreneurship in China
• Innovation and Design in China
• Internet and E-Commerce
• Energy and Environmental Solutions
• Manufacturing and Trading in/with China
• Chinese Business Culture
• State Owned Technology Enterprises

Journey Map

Trip Leaders

Professor Yinyu Ye is currently the K.T.  Li Professor of Engineering at Department of Management Science and Engineering and Institute of Computational and Mathematical Engineering and the Director of the MS&E Industrial Affiliates Program, Stanford University. He received the B.S. degree in System Engineering from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering-Economic Systems and Operations Research from Stanford University. Ye's research interests lie in the areas of optimization, complexity theory, algorithm design and analysis, and applications of mathematical programming, operations research and system engineering. He is also interested in developing optimization software for various real-world applications.

Wesley Koo, Student Leader, is a Ph.D. student at the Stanford Technology Ventures Program. He is broadly interested in entrepreneurship in emerging economies and the role of the institutional environment. His research projects focus on how market reforms affect new venture formation and on the relationship between business groups and entrepreneurial activities. Wesley holds two Bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Engineering and Finance from MIT, where he was a Richard P. Feynman Scholar. He has led and mentored numerous service projects to countries including China, Malaysia and the Philippines, and served as Chairman of the Board at the Southeast Asian Service & Leadership Network. Prior to joining Stanford, he worked at an energy start-up in western China. 



Orientations and Visas

The program will cover all inside China travel, lodging and most meals. Students are responsible for the round-trip international travel costs to China. Chinese visa fees, international health insurance and immunizations, and all other incidental expenses are also students’ responsibilities. Financial aid is available at the School of Engineering Student Affairs Office subject to evaluation by the Financial Aid office. Please contact Mrs. Marta Espinoza at the Student Affairs Office, Huang 135 or email mespin@stanford.edu.

• Pre-departure orientations at Stanford and arrival orientations will be provided through the program. Students are expected to arrive in Beijing on September 1, 2013.
• You are required to make sure to have a passport, with at least one blank visa page, that is valid for at least six months after date of departure from China.
• Documentation for applying for visas will be provided by the program.
• You will need to apply for visas with the proper invitation letters and visa papers; the visa application fee is your responsibility.
• As always, international students should consult the Bechtel International Center about their individual visa status.

More Information

Additional information is available through the FAQ page.

Eligibility

The program is aimed at declared undergraduate engineering students (freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and Coterms), although graduate students are welcome to apply and will be considered if space is available.

Chinese language skills are not required.

Students are only eligible to participate in this program if they have not yet graduated. Students who apply for summer quarter degree conferral will be considered eligible, but students whose degrees are conferred in winter or spring quarters will not be eligible.

For summer graduation requirements, including details regarding enrollment requirements and information about participation in the June commencement ceremonies, students should contact their major department's student services office. Other sources of information and advice are: the Student Services Center website, for university requirements and procedures; and, for undergraduates, Darlene Lazar (Engineering Office of Student Affairs), and the VPUE.

Deadlines

Application Becomes Available: February 15, 2013

Applications Due: March 11, 2013 at 11:59 PM

Selection Committee Reviews Applications: By March 15, 2013

Student Interviews: By April 12, 2013

Selection Committee Results: By April 12, 2013

Students Confirm Participations: By April 19, 2013

Pre-departure Orientation: May 2013

Program Dates: September 1-14, 2013

Application

12-15 students will be selected to participate in this program. Students who have never been to China are strongly encouraged to apply.

A complete application consists of: (1) an application form completed online, (2) a recommendation form, and (3) an unofficial Stanford transcript.

• Part 1 - Read the Stanford University School of Engineering – Technology and Engineering China Study Trip - Expectations, Responsibilities, and Agreements for 2013. You will be asked to electronically sign this document on the online application form (next step). Then, complete the online application form that will automatically be submitted after completion. The form is due no later than Monday, March 11, 2013 at 11:59 PM. Once submitted, your name is added to the applicant list.
• Part 2 – Recommendation Form: One letter of recommendation is required. Recommendations can be from professors (Stanford or elsewhere), employers, or anyone else you feel can attest to your skills and your ability to thrive in this type of team-oriented program in China. The Recommendation Form includes more information.
• Part 3 - Transcript: Submit an unofficial transcript of all coursework at Stanford University. Please email the pdf file to Mrs. Marta Espinoza at mespin@stanford.edu with the subject line "China TECS Application."

Candidates will be selected based on overall fit with the program especially with proven demonstration of teamwork. A selection committee will screen and interview the candidates.

Contacts

Wesley Koo (shwesley@stanford.edu)

PhD student leader for the 2013 program

Denise Chu, PhD (denise.chu@stanford.edu)

China Internship Program Manager
School of Engineering
Stanford University

Knight Building, Room 114
521 Memorial Way
Stanford, CA 94305-6023
Phone: 650-724-9538